Dale Ridge church of Christ

             On Saturday afternoon, my family and I attended the Rock and Mineral show at the Salem Civic Center.  We were amazed at all of the different stones that were available there – every shape, portable size, and color of stone that any rockhound could ever want.  My wife Ruth and our three children found a few must-have treasures, and when we came home, Ruth, Channing, and Kayla looked on the Internet for all sorts of facts on rocks and minerals.

             One interesting piece of information that they found was the Mohs scale that is used to rate the hardness of rocks and minerals [Right:  Frederick Moh (1773-1839)].  The scale ranges from 1 being the softest (talc would an example of a soft rock) to 10 being the hardest (a diamond, for example).  In order to test the hardness of a rock, you try to scratch it with other rocks of which you know the hardness rating – if a rock is able to put a mark on the stone being tested, the rock is considered to be lower on the hardness scale than the one which was able to scratch it.  If the rock was not able to make a mark on the test sample, then, the rock being tested is considered higher on the scale than the other. 

            The Mohs scale and the testing of the hardness of a rock reminds one of how a Christian is tested in this life and of what it takes to “make a mark” on a Christian.  James tells us in Chapter 1, verses 2-4, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”  When we are tested in this life, we are to count it as joy, for ultimately, our faith is being tried in order to make us “perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” 

               When trials come our way, are we more like a diamond which is strong enough not to allow the other rocks to make a mark on it, or are we like talc that all but crumbles when scratched by another stone?  Let us find strength in what Paul writes in Philippians 4:11-13: “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”  Truly, through Christ, we can be that diamond and not be shattered when troubles come our way.  With God, we can be that 10 on the hardness scale of life.   

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Filed under: Devotional, Michael Carter on December 1st, 2008